Pipe line stopfer



July 22 1952 w. E. PRESTON ET Aa. Re- 23,526

PIPE LINE STOPPER Original Filed July '7, i945 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 22, 1952 w. E. PRESTON ETAL Re. 23,526

PIPE LINE sTopPER Original Filed July 7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1H mm. f.,

Reissued July 22, 1952 v msmvss'rorr'sa 'william s. Preis. Evanston, snm L. osppelen, Bensenville, and Donald Bl Miller. Wheaton.

lll.; .asalgnors to Mueller Coi, Decatur, lll., a y `corporation oillllnoiau i.

original at; 2:41am; sans July no. seas-zz. my 1, ms.

1s, 1949, serial Application for re-. r .l

mue neuter' 1.1, 194s, serial No.121,s'zs 25 claim.k fici. iss- 94) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [-1 appears in the original patent but forms no vpari: -oithis l reissue specicatio'ng' matter 'printed in italics indicates the additions' made by reissue.

The present invention to a pipe line or main stopper. and more particularly to a portable'p'ipe line stopper which is especially adapted for emergency use. "3

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pipe line stopper. characterized particularly byits simplicity 'oi construction, operation, and eillciencyt Another object oi the present invention resides in the provision oi a new and improved portable plpeline stopper including valve means insertable into a pipe line through a hole formed therein and including coplanar valve members movable..I preferably pivotally, into forceful engagement with the inside walls of the line.'i

A further object oi the present invention residesin the provision of a new and improved pipe line 'stopper having improved sealing nieanamore particularly a packing material and sealing uid supplying means, for improving the seal between the stopper and the pipe, thereby rendering the apparatus especially adapted for use in high pressure'mains.

A further obiect ot the present invention is the provision oi a new and improved pipeline stopper including hydraulic means for holding pipe engaging valve members in contact with the inside wall of the pipe. l

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pipe line stopper of the character adapted to be inserted into the pipe line through a nipple secured to the exterior ot the line, characterized by the provision of improved sealing means for preventing'the escape oi' iluid to the exterior ot the pipe through the nipple. l vA further object o! the present invention is a newand improved nipple, particularlynadapted ioruse with the pipe line stopper ot the invention.

installed in a pipe line and stopping the ilow oi the fluid through the line; i y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross sectional line taken along the line l- I oi Fig. l:y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken along theline I-I of Pig. l:

Fig. 4 is a .vertical cross sectional view takenv alongv the broken line 4 4 oi Fig. 2. but withI certain portions ofthe stopperin different positions; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryside 'elevational view of that portionoithe stopper which is inserted' into the pipe line;

Fig. 6 is a vertical jcross sectional view illusthe manner in which the pipe line is sealed after use is made of the stopper;

Fig. 'I is a fragmentary' elevational view, partly av modiilcation of the broken away, illustrating invention; and

Fig. 8 is a view modiiled form of nipple constructed inv accordance with the present invention. v

In the past, considerable trouble has been en' countered in 's toppingthe ilow of ilulds, notably gas. in pipe lines or mains when `it "is" desired to work at some point in the line ahead of which there is no valve for stopping the flow of gas.

Heretotore, in practice at least, it has been'usual to ireeze the pipe lines ahead vof the point at which it is desired `to work, using water which is v frozen in the line by ice or Dry Ice, usually the latter.

The stopper of vthe present invention is a mechanical device having many advantages. It can be inserted inplace readily and kprovides a very secure stoppage of the ilow'oi gas. It is illustratedin the drawings, as a whole, vby reference' character I0. It includes' generally vertically (assuming a vertical installation) movable valve means I2 adapted to beinserted through a relativelysmall opening in a pipe line I4 and man ually operable means comprising a tubular stem Il for operatirfuz,r the valve means eiectively to stop the main. The stopper is used in conjunction with'a standard gate valve Il and a nipple Il of novel construction, as will bedescribed in detail shortly.

l The pipe line stopper of the present invention is, as already indicated, capable of stopping-the iiow oi iluid, such as gas, in a live main. Therefore, means are provided to secure the stopper in .place in such manner that gas will not escape;v

The ilrst step in the application of the device conslats in securing the nipple 20 to the pipe I4 as by welding it to the exterior ofthe unbroken pipe, as indicated by the reference character 22. 'Ihe nipple has a lower portion'with an elongated inner surface Il machined to relatively close .I0 limits for,` a reason vwhich "will appear shortly.

'ihe upper portion has alarger lnnerdiameter and internal threads 28 ior the reception-of a sealing plugv 28 for sealing' od the nipple after the stopper has been removed, the' sealing plug being shown installedl in Fig.` o.' vThenipple'fis similar to Fig. 6 -illustratinga 3 also provided with external threads il at its upper end for the reception oi the gate valve Il.

Alter the gate valve has been secured to the nipple, an opening I2 is drilled into the pipe line by suitable drilling apparatus secured-s to the upper end o! the gate valve by known means which have not been illustrated. The hole I! is drilled to have the same diameter as the opening 'u at tlieinmedlate adjacent end el the nipple in. This hole, it should benoten. is substantially ,l smaller than the inside diameter oi the pipe line. After the hole has beep/drilled. the gate valve ls again closed and thestopper of the present invention secured to' the upper end of the valve, after h the valve is again opened and the valve means il of the stopper inserted into the pipe line and operated to stop the main.

The valve means I2 is supported for vertical movement in a tubular housing 34, the lower end oi' which is threaded onto the outer end of the gate valve. A pair of horizontally disposed oppositely extending guiding and positioning lugs 36 (see Fig. l) are secured near the upper end oi tube 34.

The valve means I2 and the operating member li include, in the main. two relatively movable parts, both ci which are movable in the housing ll. One of the ytwo relatively movable parts, which may conveniently be termed a carrier, is inserted into the pipe line and forcibly held against the bottom of the pipe and the other part. which may be termed a valve support. is thereafter also inserted into the pipe and operated vby member I6 ilnally to seal the line. The

two relatively movable parts ot the valve meanslthe carrier and support-are indicated generally by reference characters 40 and 42, respectively.

, The former is best illustrated in Fig. 5, and the latter in Figs. l, 4. and 6. The lower end of carrier 40 is constituted in the main by a pair of generally rectangular carrier plates M ol' generally rectangular cross section, a pair of segmental outer plates xedly secured to plates Il and having outer surfaces curved to have a radius .of curvature substantially equal to that oi the openings 24 and I2 in the nipple and pipe. respectively. The hat sides oi the plates 4B, the sides adjacent the plates M, are somewhat wider than the plates M, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. thereby to provide a groove or channel 4l (see Fig. 4) for the reception oi a strip Il of suitable packing material. The strip should be thick enough to accommodate itself to small irregularities inside the pipe line.

The lower end of the carrier is also provided with a pipe engaging valve portion I! ilxedly secured to plates Il and Il and between plates 4I by suitable securingmeans such as the bolts Il, and a positioning pin I8. The plates 44 and Il are additionally held to each other by the four screws 58 (see Fig. 4). The valve member I2 is disposed transversely oi the line. i. e., in a diametralplane relative to the line.

packing ll, it should be noted. also ex- Itends around the portion Il. The latter is provided with a peripheral groove 82 to receive the packing in such manner that the packing extends beyond the member and rests against the inside oi the pipe wall when the stopper is inserted into the pipe line. The ends of the packingstrip ill are secured near the upper ends of the plates M by a clamping band B4.

The carrier I also includes a tubular upper member 88 to which the plates Il and structures secured thereto 'are secured by a ntting il. The

upper circular end Ill oi the iltting is secured in suitable manner, as by a press iit. to the lower recessed end 'I2-oi tube 88 (see Figs. l and 2l. The lower end 1I of the iltting is generally rectangular in section and constitutes a tongue. to the opposite sides of which the upper ends of plates I4 are secured. The tubular member Il is vertically movable within the tube 34 in which 1 r it is movably supported by suitable packing and guiding structure indicated generally by the reference character 1I (seeFig. i). A pair of oppositely extending handles Il are secured to the upper end of tube B8 so that the valve means i2 may be moved vertically, and, especially, so that the carrier may be better forced against the bottom oi the interior of the pipe. The support portion 42 oi the valve means I! comprises, in the main. a pair of movable valve members 82. which are preferably segmental in shape and pivotally movable, see particularly Fig.

members are so supported that they move pivotally about an axis extending lengthwise ci the pipe line, i. e.. they move transversely or diametrically of the pipe line and in the plane oi valve member 52. More speciiically, the valve members are pivotally secured to an axis deilning pin 8l by links 9| and 82. The upper ends of the links are apertured to receive the pin Il (see particularly Fig. 2) and the lower ends are apertured to receive pins 94 and IB, respectively. passing through link receiving slots Il in valve members B2.

The valve members are so constructed and arranged that when the [carrier 4I] support 42 is moved upwardly, say to the position indicated in Fig. 4, then they are located within the coniines 'oi' the [support 42] carrier 40 whereby the valve means as a whole may be inserted into the pipe line. The upward movement of support Il in carrier lil is limited by a pair of stop pins 91 extending between plates of the carrier. The construction is also such that when the head u is moved downwardly, the segment valves l2 are moved outwardly in opposite directions toward planar arrangement of valve members l2 and l! enables a single simple strip ot packing to be used.

The valve members I! are moved by a novel I and simple arrangement. They are initially cammed apart by a pin Ill extending between the plates I4 and disposed a short distance above the top of the lower valve member Il. The valve members are shown in contact with this -pin in Fig. 4. As the carrier and the head B4 with the valve members 82 are lowered, the valve members are spread apart and the lower inclined edges |02, which constitute cam surfaces, strike the upwardly facing inclined edges Ill oi' the lower valve member l2, which also constitute cam surfaces, whereby the valve members are moved transversely of the pipe and toward the side walls. The pin ill at this time cooperates with the links Il and I2 to insure continued outward movement oi' the links and prevents buckling thereof. Ii' desired, the upper ends oi the valve members may be cut away as indicated by reference characters |08. thereby to provide portions adapted lbetter to engage the arcuate rounded lower end of the carrier head I4.' as best illustrated in Fig. l.

When the stopper has been operated to stop the pipe line. it will be noted that the packing strip l0 is forced against the inside of the pipe line through the entire inner surface of the pipe wall and that it lies against the machined inside wall 24 of the nipple.

The valve operating member Il is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement within tube 06. It is movablewithin fitting 03 at the lower end of the tube and in a packing gland indicated generally by the reference character |||l and located at the upper endvof the tube. The vertically movable support 42 and associated parts including the operating member |l are reciprocable vertically bvk a rotatable handle ||2 held against vertical movement between a pair of plates ||4 spaced by bushings H3. The upper end of operating member i4 is threaded, as indicated by reference character IIB, so that, as the handle ||2 is turned, vthe operating member Il together with the vario'us parts secured to it is reciprocated vertically to eilect movement of the valve members l2. The plates ||4 are prevented from moving vertically during manipulation of the hand wheel by the positioning and guiding bolts |20, the upper ends of which are flxedly secured to the plates ||4 by the nuts |22, and. the intermediate portions of which are secured to handles 30 by nuts |20' at opposite sides of the handles 30, and the lower ends of which pass through apertures |23 in the lugs 36. Upward movement of the bolts is prevented by nuts |30 threaded onto threaded portions |32 of the bolts |20. The nuts |30 are also utilized to hold the carrier valve portion 52 against the bottom of the pipe. It will be noted also that when the stopper as a whole. and tube 34 in particular, is secured to the gate valve, then bolts |20 hold the plates I|4 against upward movement as the hand wheel ||2 is turned to force the valve support 42 downwardly and the segmental valve members 32 transversely of the pipe.

In order to detach the stopper, after the support 42 has been retracted. as shown in Fig. 4, it is necessary only to unloosen the nuts |30, whereupon both the carrier 40 and support 42 may be moved upwardly out of the pipe and nipple.

In accordance with a further novel feature of the present invention, the seal is made more elfective by the application of a sealing fluid.

preferably a relatively heavy lubricant, to the interior of the pipe and against the packing strip and' against the inside machined surface 24 of the nipple. The lubricant is forced to the places mentioned through the valve operating means I6, which is provided with an axial bore or passageway |40 extending throughout its length. A lubricant containing fitting |42 is detachably secured to the upper end of the bore and the fitting has a rotatable arid downwardly movable piston |44 at its upper end. As the piston |44 is forced downwardly, the lubricant is forced through the bore |40 intothe carrier head 34 and the space or recess between the segmental valve members 32.

The lubricant flows out of the lower end of bore'lll into a slot |40 in carrier head 34 through a short passageway |40 at the upper end of the support (see Figs. 2 and 4). From this slot the lubricant iiows into the space between the segmental valve members 02 when the support is in a predetermined position relative to the carrier plates 44, through generally vertically extending narrow slots |30 inv the' plates 44, which are aligned relative to recess |40 as best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The lower-ends of the slots |30 extend below the end of the support head 34.V even when the latter is in its lowermost position as indicated in Fig. 2, so that lubricant forces the segmental valve members 32 outwardly against the inside walls of the pipe. Some of the lubricant also nds its way `to the packing where it serves the advantageous purpose of providing a more secure sealing action.

The leakage of gas or other iiuid out through the nipple is also prevented by a lubricant seal. The lubricant under pressure in recess |44 is also conducted to the inner wall 24 of the nipple. This is accomplished through a pair of opposed ports |32 leading to an external peripheral groove |54 extending around the segmental plates 40 of carrier 40. Lubricant is also forced to the packing strip 50 in the vicinity of the machine surface 24 through opposed ports |50 extending from the recess |46 to the channel 30 in the carrier head 84, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

The use of the apparatus in stopping a live gas main will now be described. As heretofore briefly indicated, the first step in the use is the securing of the nipple 20 to the pipe line and the securing of a gate valve I0 to the upper end of a nipple. A drilling apparatus of known construction is secured to the upper end of the gate valve, after which the gate valve is opened, the hole 32 drilled, and the gate valve re-closed, and the drilling apparatus removed.

The stopper of the present invention is now ready for use. Before use. the carrier 40 and relatively movable support 42 are in their retracted positions. i. e., drawn within the supporting tube section 34, wherein they may be normally held as by a pin |00 secured by a chain |62 to the upper end of tube 34 and adapted to pass through a hole |64 in one of the bolts |20, whereby the bolt may be held by the pin |60 resting on the upper side of stop lug 30. It is a relatively easy matter when the apparatus is thus held to secure the tube 34 to the upper end of the gate valve when the gate valve is closed. The gate valve is then opened, the pin |60 removed, and both carrier and support are lowered through the gate valve and nipple into the pipe line. The carrier 40, which includes the quadrant shaped valve member 52 is forced securely against the bottom of the pipe by manipulation of the nuts |30 which act through bolts |20 and handles 80 to force the carrier 40 against the bottom of the interior of the pipe. The support 42 may now be lowered into the pipe by manipulation of the hand wheel, whereupon the segmental valve members 32 are cammed outwardly against the inside of the pipe wall. As a result, packing strip i0 is forced against the entire inner periphery of the pipe wall.

Additional pressure and more complete sealing is accomplished by the application of grease to the packing for sealing the pipe line and preventing the flow of gas through the nipple. The lubricant is supplied readily through the bore |40 in the valve operating member I6 with the result that, as previously described in detail. grease is supplied to the packing strip and also around the periphery of the stopper in the vicinity of the nipple.

After the desired work has been done on the pipe line or equipment connected to it, the stopper` is released 4and 'detached from the pipe. This is eifected simply by taking the pressure oi! the lubricant and rotating hand wheel I i2 to lift'the portion I2 of the stopper sumciently to retract the valve segments l2 within the confines of the plates Il.' as illustrated in 1"ig.` 4, after which nuts ill arereleased and theparts 40 and 'Il are moved upwardly-as a unit, by lifting the handles Ill. The gate valve maynow" be closed and the stopper detached 4i'ro'mthe valve. The sealing plug 28 is secured to the internal threads 2| in the nipple by suitable apparatus (not shown) insertable through the gate valve, which 'is opened to enable this to be done.

' Grease may be applied under pressure to the valve vmeans through means otherlthan that described. For instance. referring now to Fig. 7.' it may be applied through a'lubricant iltting |10 secured to a coupling i12 threaded to the upper end of the valve operating means Il. -A suitable grease gun .having a coupling Ill may then be grease under pressure to the stop- .not to be limited by the specic details of the described embodiments, except in so iar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim asnew and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A pipe line stopper of the type insertable into a line through an openingin the line, including in combinationl a carrier having a valve portion extending transversely of the line and being insertable through said opening into abuttingrelation with the interior of the pipe line. al support movable relative to the carrier, a pair of valve members disposed in the plane of the valve portion of said carrier, means movably supporting said pair of valve members on said support for transverse movement in said plane. and

means for moving said pair of valve members l in said plane to engage opposite sides oi' the pipe line when said support is moved relative to said carrier.

2. A pipe line stopper of the type insertable into a line through an opening in the line, including in combination, a carrier having a valve rtion extending transversely of the line and ing insertable through said opening into abutting relation with the interior of the pipe line, a support movable relative to the carrier, a pair of valve members disposed in the plane of the valve portion of said carrier, means movably supporting said pair of valve members on said support for transverse movement in said plane, a packing strip surrounding said pair of valve members and the portion of the carrier abutting against the interior oi' the pipe line, and means for moving said pair of valve members in said plane to force said packing strip into engagement with the interior of the pipe line when said support is moved relative to said carrier. 3. A pipe line stopper of the type insertabl into a line through an opening in the line. in-

portion extending transversely of the line 'and being insertable through said opening into abutting relation with the interior of the pipe line. said valve portion having a cam surface on the sideopposite that abutting against the interior of the pipe, a support above the cam surface movable toward and away from the cam surface. a pair of valve members disposed above the cam surface and in the plane of the` valve portion of said carrier. means movably supporting said pair of valve members on said support for transverse movement in said plane, and means for moving said support toward and away from said cam surface whereby said pair of valve members are cammed toward and away from opposite sides oi the pipe line.

4. A pipe line stopper as claimed in claim 3,

wherein'said carrier has an abutment below the i I erally flat' sided segmental members, the at sides oi Awhich are adjacent the sides of the support and valvef members. for'mcvably supporting said valve members and support.

6. A pipe line stopper as claimed in claim 5. wherein portions of said valve members, carrier and support arel grooved and encircled by va :packing strip secured to the carrier.

7. A pipe line stopper of the type insertable into a pipe line through an opening in the line and having portions engageable with the inside of the line, 'characterized in that passage means are provided in the stopper leading to the pipe line engaging portions.- andln that the stopper includes means through which sealingl medium may be forced' under pressure into said passage means.

8. A pipe line stopper oi' the' type insertable into a pipe line through an opening in the line and including valve members movable in opposite directions to engage the interior of the line,

'characterized in that the stopper includes" a recess and the valve members are mounted in the recess in such manner that the opposite edges thereof face each other and form partof a variable volume recess, and in that the stopper includes a sealing medium passage through which sealing medium can be forced under pressure into said recess.

9. A pipe line stopper of the typey insertabl into a pipe line through an opening in the line and including valve portions movable in opposite directions against the interior of the line. in" cluding in combination, a valve chamber. a pair of valve members mounted in said chamber and forming part of a variable volume chamber, packing means disposed to the outer sides of said valve members, and a sealing medium passageway extending .to said chamber.

l0. Pipe line stopping apparatus. including in combination. a tubular tltting having a machined inner surface secured to a pipe in augment with an opening in the pipe line, and a stopper insertable into the pipe line through the iitting and opening and having a generally cylindrical inexpansible portion ntting closely in said tubular fitting when the stopper is inserted into the pipe une' .I

combination, a' tubular fitting having a machinedl inner surface secured to a pipe in alignment with an opening in the pipe line, and a stopper insertable into the pipe line through the fitting and opening and having a generally cylindrical porto engage the interior thereof, said valve members having an external groove, said carrier having also a tubular extension through which sealing tion ntting closely in the fitting when the stopper is inserted into the pipe line, said portion of the stopper having a sealing medium passageway on its exterior, and means for forcing sealing medium into said passageway.

12. A pipe iine stopper of the type insertable into a pipe line through an opening in the line, characterized in that the stopper is provided with a generally cylindrical member having an annular groove on its exterior and with passage defining means through which a sealing medium may be forced under pressure into said groove.

13. A pipe line stopper, including in combination. a carrier insertable into an opening in the pipe line, a valve support movable relative to said carrier to engage the interior of the line said carrier having a generally cylindrical portion having an annular groove on its exterior,

and passage defining means through which sealing medium may be forced into said groove, said passage defining means including passage means on the carrier and support adapted to be aligned only when the two are in predetermined relative positions.

14. Pipe line stopping apparatus, including in combination, a tubular fitting having a machined inner surface secured to a pipe in alignment with an opening in the pipe line, a stopper including a carrier insertable into the pipe line through the fitting and opening and having a generally cylindrical portion, fitting closely in the fitting when the stopper is inserted into the pipe line, said portion of the stopper having a sealing medium passageway on its exterior, a valve support movable relative to said carrier, a packing strip encircling said portion of the carrier in the region of the tubular fitting and a sealing medium passageway leading to the packing in the region of the tubular fitting, and means for forcing sealing medium under pressure through said passageway to the packing strip.

15. A pipe line stopper of the type insertable into a pipe line through a tubular fitting secured to and surrounding an opening in the line, characterized in that the stopper is provided witha generally cylindrical carrier having an annular groove on its exterior, a valve support movable relativev to the carrier. a packing strip encircling the carrier and a portion of the valve support and secured to the carrier. and with passage defining means on the support through which sealing medium under pressure may be forced against the packing in the region of the tubular fitting and into said groove.

16. A pipe line stopper of the type insertable into a pipe line through an opening in the line, including in combination, a valve carrier insertable through said opening into the interior of the pipe line. said carrier including a pair of spaced apart segmental members arranged with their flat sides facing each other and a generally triangular valve defining portion located between said segmental members and extending a slight distance therebelow and having an external groove around its lower end. a support movably mounted between said segmental members, a pair-of valve members located between said segmental members and pivotally secured to said support where-4 by they are movable transversely of the pipe line fluid may be forced, a recess communicating with said tubular portion, external grooves in said carrier located above said valve members and in line with the grooves, and passageways from said recess to the grooves in said carrier, said carrier having internal passageways adapted to communicate with said recess and the region between said valve members when said support is located with the valve members inside the pipe line, and passageways from said internal passageways leadii'ig to the exterior of the segmental members. said segmental members having an annular passageway communicating with last said mentioned passageways, and a strip of packing material secured to said carrier and extending around the grooved portions of said valve members, and the lower valve portion of the carrier.

17 A pipe line' stopper. of the type insertable into a pipe line through an opening in the line, including in combination, a stopper portion insertable into the line through the opening and having packing means on its exterior, valve means movable to force the packing against the inside of the pipe line, sealing medium passage means in the stopper leading to the packing, and means for operating the valve means. said operating means having a passageway communicating with the sealing medium passageway whereby sealing medium may be forced into the latter passageway.

18. A pipe line stopper of the type insertable .into a pipe line through an opening in the line, including in combination, a stopper portion insertable into the line through the opening and having packing means on its exterior, valve means movable to force the packing against the inside of the line, sealing medium passage means in the stopper leading to the packing, and means for operating the valve means, said operating means having a passageway communicating with the sealing medium passageway whereby sealing medium may be forced into the latter passageway, and a fitting secured to the stopper through which sealing medium is forced into said passageways.

19. A nipple for use with a pipe line stopper, comprising a tubular member adapted to be secured to the exterior of the pipe line, said member having at one end a machined inner sealing surface of a predetermined diameter adapted to cooperate with complementary sealing means on the stopper and an opposite end having both interior and exterior threads. the inner diameter of said interior threads being substantially greater than said predetermined diameter.

20. A pipe line stopper of the type insertable into a line through an opening in the line, including in combination, a carrier insertable into the line through the opening, a support movably mounted on said carrier and having valve means movable into engagement with the interior of the pipe line, and means for moving the valve means including a variable volume chamber of which the valve means form a part and a hydraulic operating medium passageway leading to said chamber through said movable support.

21. A pipeline stopper comprising an elongated rigid body member and a slide member guided 11 in laterally swinging relation, said vanes when in normal relation being insertable together with said members-'through a lateral opening in a main smaller than the inside diameter of the main with the vanes disposed transversely of the main, means on the other of' said members for projecting said vanes upon relative sliding movement of said members, said vanes having outer edges curved substantially as the inside of the main, one of said members having a foot surface curved substantially as the inside of the main, and compressible means engaged between said curved surface and the bottom of the main and between said curved outer edges and the sides of the main when the stopper is inserted and the vanes are projected, whereby to provide a continuous seal between the stopper and main around `to said opening.

22. A pipe line stopper comprising an elongated rigid body member and a slide member guided by said body member for. longitudinal movement relative thereto, a pair of vanes normally extending longitudinally of one of said members and pivoted thereto transversely at their same ends in laterally swinging relation, said vanes when in normal relation being insertable together with said members through a 4lateral opening in a main smaller than the inside diameter of the main withthe vanes disposed transversely of the main, the pivotpoint of said vanes being located adjacent one side wall of the conduit when said vanes are inserted, fmeans on the other of said members for separating the free ends of said vanes to proiect said vanes `upon relative sliding movement of said members. said vanes having continuous outer` edges curved substantially as the inside of the, main, one of said members having a foot surface curved substantially as the inside o! the main, and compressible means engaged between said curvedsurface and the bottom of the main and between said curved outer edges and the sides of the main when the stopper is inserted and the vanes are projected, the edges of each of said vanes when projected extending from said opening substantially to said curved foot surface, whereby to provide a continuous seal between the stopper and main around to said opening.

23. A pipe line stopper comprising an elongated rigid body'member and a slide member guided by said body member for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a pair 'of va'nes normally extend--l ing longitudinally of said members, means pivotally connecting said vanes at one end to one l2' of said members for transverse movement in laterally swinging relation, said vanes when in normal relation being insertableftogether with said members through an opening in a main smaller than the inside diameter of the-main with the vanes disposed transversely of the main, means on the other of said members. for projecting said vanes upon relative sliding movement of said members, said vanes having outer edges curved substantially as the inside ot the main, one of said members having a foot surface curved substantially as the inside of the main, and sealing means engaged between said curved surface andthe bottom ofthe main and between said curved outer edges and the sides of the main when the stopper is inserted and the vanes are proiected, whereby to provide a continuous seal between the stopper and main around to said opening.

2l. Structure according to claim 21 wherein the vanes are pivoted on a common axis.

t5.V A pipe line stopper comprising an elongated rigid body, a -pair of vanes pivoted to said body on an axis extending transversely of the body, said vanes being foldable together about said axis and when so folded being insertable together with said body Vthrough a lateral opening in a main with said axis extending lengthwise of the main, said opening being of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the main. and means associated with said body andoperable from the exterior of the main to oppositely proiect said vanes by swinging them about said axis. said vanes having continuous outer edges curved substantially asfthe inside of the main. the edges of each of said vanes when projected extending from said opening substantially to the opposite side of WILLIAM E. PRESTON. ALBERT L. CAPPELEN. DONALD B. tml-ER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are o! record in the ille of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PAI'ENTS Huelleretal June 9.1942 

